A History of Drag Performers Who Made History

Although the term “drag queen” only gained widespread acceptance around the mid-20th century, the practice of using clothing, makeup, and hairstyling to express gender and entertain others has a long history. Joe E. Jeffreys, a drag historian, video artist, and professor at New York University and The New School, describes drag as “the theatrical exaggeration of gender.”



From the vaudeville circuit to reality TV, here are nine drag performers who made history.

1. William Dorsey Swann

William Dorsey Swann, a formerly enslaved Black person, was the first-known self-described drag queen and one of the earliest-known American LGBTQ activists. Journalist and historian Channing Gerard Joseph rediscovered Swann's story in 2005, reshaping the narrative of queer history in the United States. Born on a Hancock, Maryland plantation around 1860, Swann moved to Washington, D.C., where he led a queer resistance group in the 1880s. This group, consisting primarily of other formerly enslaved Black men, held drag balls in Swann’s home, half a mile from the White House.

Swann, who called himself the “queen of drag,” is recognized as the first-known person to use the term "drag queen" in a manner similar to today. Arrested numerous times during police raids in the late 1880s and on a false charge of operating a brothel in 1896, Swann applied for a pardon from President Grover Cleveland but was denied.

2. Julian Eltinge


Julian Eltinge, born William Dalton in Massachusetts in 1881, was a highly influential female impersonator of the early 20th century. Starting his career in saloon drag acts and Shakespearean plays, Eltinge gained fame on Broadway in 1904. Unlike Swann, Eltinge never referred to himself as a “drag queen,” preferring terms like “female impersonator” or “female illusionist.” He participated in staged boxing matches to appeal to mainstream audiences and even developed his own line of makeup and skincare products. Eltinge helped establish drag as a potential career path in America.

3. Crystal LaBeija


Crystal LaBeija, who placed fourth in the 1967 Miss All-America Camp Beauty Pageant, laid the foundation for the house system in ballroom culture. Reacting to racial biases in pageants, LaBeija organized her own pageant for people of color, promoting it through the House of LaBeija. She served as a mother figure to LGBTQ+ youth and mentored house members, cementing the concept of the “chosen family.” The house system continues to influence dance movements and fashion trends worldwide.


4. Darcelle XV

In 2016, Guinness World Records named Darcelle XV, born Walter W. Cole, the “oldest [active] drag queen in the world.” Cole, a Portland, Oregon native, adopted the stage name “Darcelle” in 1969 and purchased a bar that became the Darcelle XV Showplace. The venue was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. Cole performed as Darcelle until his death in 2023 at age 92.

5. José Sarria


José Julio Sarria, after serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, became a popular performer and gay rights advocate in San Francisco. Known as “Mama José,” Sarria co-founded the League for Civic Education in 1961, promoting gay civil rights. That same year, he ran for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay person to run for public office in the United States. Sarria also helped establish the Imperial Court System, a network of LGBTQ+ nonprofit charities.

6. Divine


Born Harris Glenn Milstead in Baltimore in 1945, Divine was a character actor, singer, and drag queen known for collaborating with filmmaker John Waters. Divine's drag persona was edgy and groundbreaking, earning her the title “Godzilla of Drag Queens.” She starred in Waters’ films and achieved mainstream success with the 1988 movie *Hairspray*, where she played Edna Turnblad. Divine's influence extended to both the punk and mainstream drag scenes.

7. Joan Jett Blakk

In 1992, Joan Jett Blakk became the first drag queen to run for president of the United States. Running on the Queer Nation Party ticket, Blakk made a memorable appearance at the Democratic National Convention. Prior to her presidential runs, Blakk ran for mayor of Chicago in 1990 to raise awareness of the AIDS crisis and later ran for mayor of San Francisco in 1998.



8. Lady Bunny

A comedian, drag queen, actor, recording artist, and DJ, Lady Bunny began her career in Atlanta and moved to New York City in 1984. She organized the inaugural Wigstock Festival in 1985, which became a significant event for drag performers and influenced mainstream media, including *RuPaul’s Drag Race*.

9. RuPaul


RuPaul began her career in Atlanta's underground drag scene in the early 1980s and gained fame in the 1990s with her hit single “Supermodel (You Better Work).” Her polished image and media savvy led to a record deal, a MAC Cosmetics campaign, and a talk show on VH1. In 2009, RuPaul launched *RuPaul’s Drag Race*, a reality competition show that has significantly influenced the drag scene and brought it into the mainstream.

These nine drag performers not only entertained but also paved the way for greater acceptance and visibility of drag culture in society.